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Even the most dedicated fitness fan will admit there are times they would rather watch TV than go for a run. Well now they can combine the two.

In a move that will surely appall the purists David Lloyd Clubs is enabling personal trainers to run with TV screens on their backs allowing people to binge watch as they work out.

The club hopes their new “PVT” classes will allow their members to stay up-to-date with their favourite shows whilst getting fit.

Bur the scheme has prompted concerns from running professionals who said they fear the screens may be a distraction for runners and could be a safety hazard.

400 meter hurdles European Champion Rhys Williams praised the scheme saying “anything that gets people out doing exercise and running is fantastic” but added that there were some safety issues which would need to be addressed.

The scheme wants to combat the negative impacts associated with watching TV

“I would say that there are clearly some safety concerns to consider especially in terms of tripping and not looking out for traffic, but I’m sure the trainers will address those and I hope pick suitable running routes,” he said.

Vice-president of the British Association of Road Racing Roland Gibbard also raised similar worries about how safe the scheme was, labelling it as a “pointless” exercise.

“In honestly I think it is ridiculous and completely defeats the point of running outside. You may as well just stand on a treadmill,” he said.

“The whole thing seems a bit pointless to me, and that’s without considering the safety implications. You could trip over anything and you can’t hear or aren’t looking out for traffic. It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

A spokeswoman from RunBritain also commented that running outdoors requires people to be aware their environment and any potential hazards and that from “a health and wellbeing perspective running outside gives people an opportunity to connect with their environment which may be lost if they are watching TV.”

The scheme was initially designed in a bid to raise awareness of the importance of staying active and moving regularly even during a binge-watching marathon.

Rhys Williams said the scheme had some safety issues that needed to be addressedCredit:
Julian Finney/Getty

Research by David Lloyd found that 24% of Britons currently do not do any exercise each week because of their hectic day-to-day schedules, however one in five found time to watch over 31 hours of TV a week.

Addressing the concerns a spokesman from David Lloyd Clubs said all routes would be carefully mapped out “in green spaces that are well away from all roads and vehicles”, adding that the personal trainer would ensure that runners were “extremely familiar with the route” to make the activity as safe as possible.

The scheme is also aimed at combating the negative impacts associated with watching TV such as feeling lethargic and eating more.

The spokesman added: “The PTV sessions are designed to raise awareness around the potential health implications that can result from ‘binge watching’ TV shows - specifically being physically inactive and sedentary for hours on end.

“We want to remind people in an original way of the importance of staying active and healthy - even during a binge-watching marathon.”

PTV sessions are to initially be trialled at David Lloyd Chigwell next weekend. Depending on the success of the trial, David Lloyd Clubs will look into rolling out the service across the UK over the spring and summer months